Southern Resistance declares war on Aden government’s Minister of Defense

SHABWA, March 31 (YPA) – The “Southern Resistance” in Shabwa province announced on Tuesday that it had raised its readiness level to the maximum, issuing a stern warning to the Saudi-backed Aden government’s Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili.

In a news statement, it described al-Aqili’s presence in the city of Ataq, following his arrival from Seiyun city of the province, as “a provocation and a gamble with unpredictable consequences.”

The statement said such actions, which it viewed as “provoking the people of Shabwa and the south in general,” were unacceptable, stressing that southern regions “would not be a haven for those who conspired against them.”

It also declared its outright rejection of the minister’s presence anywhere in the province, vowing not to allow “the recycling of failed and dependent figures under any pretext.”

The group added that it had declared a state of “maximum readiness” in recent hours, instructing its members to be prepared to “deal decisively with any suspicious movements.” The statement continued: “The language we understand is that of land and sovereignty. Those who believe Shabwa is an open arena for protocol visits tied to incomplete projects must bear the consequences.”

It further warned of a “firm response” to any violations, considering the defense minister’s presence in Shabwa and other southern provinces a “red line.”

The escalation follows reports that al-Aqili approved the dismissal of hundreds of recruits loyal to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council from the “Barshid Brigade,” in exchange for the return of leaders affiliated with the Islah Party from outside the province within the Shabwa Defense factions, as part of what has been described as restructuring and redeployment arrangements.

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